By Dr. Bhavini Gohel & Muskaan Muse Laroyia | The Conversation Canada

Wildfires are becoming more frequent and intense in Canada, and their health impacts go far beyond stinging eyes or scratchy throats. At the Brain Climate Equity Collaborative (Brain-CE Collab), we are raising awareness about the hidden neurological risks posed by wildfire smoke: risks that disproportionately affect equity-deserving populations.

This article, co-authored by our co-founder Dr. Bhavini Gohel and MSc candidate Muskaan Laroyia, explores how the tiny pollutants in wildfire smoke, called PM2.5, can travel directly to the brain, causing inflammation, damaging neurons, and increasing risks of stroke, dementia, multiple sclerosis (MS) relapses, and cognitive decline. Alarmingly, even brief smoke exposure, as little as three hours, has been linked to measurable reductions in attention and mental clarity.

Why This Matters

Climate change is reshaping Canada’s wildfire seasons, and the neurological toll is mounting:

• Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in wildfire smoke bypasses the lungs and enters the bloodstream or directly reaches the brain.
• Short- and long-term exposure increases risks of stroke, dementia, MS flare-ups, epilepsy complications, and cognitive impairment.
• Children, older adults, Indigenous Peoples, low-income households, and those with chronic conditions are disproportionately impacted.
• Neurological risks remain largely absent from public health messaging and emergency preparedness frameworks.

By centering brain health, we highlight the urgent need to integrate neurological protection into climate adaptation policies, clinical training, and health-care systems.

A Call to Action

The Brain-CE Collab is committed to advancing a climate-health equity framework focused on protecting vulnerable brains. To prepare for the next wildfire season, we advocate for:

• Health system readiness: clean air shelters, evacuation planning, and continuity of care for neurological patients.
• Equitable resource access: funding for home air filtration, community outreach, and protective equipment.
• Indigenous leadership: supporting Indigenous-led fire stewardship and culturally grounded approaches to wildfire response.
• Public education: expanding smoke-related health messaging beyond respiratory harm to include neurological risks.

The evidence is clear: climate change is a brain health issue. Protecting our minds requires urgent, coordinated action across research, policy, and community-led solutions.